Dr. R. Mary Hayden Lemmons
Dr. Lemmons focuses on ethics, political and legal philosophy, the philosophy of person and love and personalist feminism in her research.
Tackle big questions
Philosophy
About the Department of Philosophy
Is the human mind just a very complicated machine? Can we have free will if the mind is a machine?
The Department of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas attempts to address these questions and countless others through our research and courses. The department has a long-standing commitment to the study of Aristotle and Aquinas, and we are committed to engaging a variety of philosophical traditions and areas.
As a philosophy student, you have the ability to study a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to) Tibetan epistemology, the philosophy of science, philosophical questions in children's literature and so much more. You will gain important logic and critical thinking skills as you analyze a diverse array of concepts and problems from various perspectives.
The Major and Minor
Our department offers courses in almost every area of philosophy ranging from ethics to the philosophy of science. No matter what your goals are, we can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in your future career.
For Current Students
For information about how to declare a major or minor in philosophy, see Declaring an Academic Major or Minor.
What can I do with a major or minor in philosophy?
A major or minor in philosophy allows you to pursue numerous career paths. As a student in our program, you will develop a wide range of abilities that serve as the foundation for lifelong personal and professional success.
A significant number of philosophy majors pursue religious occupations, others go on to work in education, business, communications, finance, law, medicine, public service and the arts.
Additionally, studying philosophy is ideal preparation for graduate or professional school. In fact, philosophy majors score higher on the LSAT exam than any other major, and rank third in the list of majors accepted into American medical schools. They also score well on the GRE and GMAT.
Core Curriculum Requirements
The core curriculum is the bedrock of the University of St. Thomas that focuses on educating the whole person and complementing their major and minor studies.
Our department offers a foundational philosophy course called "The Person and the Good," which is part of the university's core of required courses. This course introduces basic tools of logic and philosophical perspectives on human nature and ethics. As part of the core curriculum, students may opt to take a second philosophy course on a variety of topics, such as environmental ethics, medical ethics, God and artificial intelligence.
Faculty
Our faculty are passionate scholars and dedicated teachers that will mentor and challenge you throughout your undergraduate career at St. Thomas.
Dr. R. Mary Hayden Lemmons
Dr. Mark Spencer
Dr. Spencer specializes in the philosophy of beauty, medieval/scholastic philosophy, metaphysics, phenomenology and philosophical theology.
Dr. Stephen Laumakis
Dr. Laumakis researches the history of philosophy, Buddhist philosophy and Chinese philosophy. In his book An Introduction to Buddhist Philosophy, Dr. Laumakis explains the origin and development of Buddhist ideas and concepts by focusing on philosophical ideas and arguments.
American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly (ACPQ)
Our department is the editorial headquarters of the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, the 82-year-old journal of the American Catholic Philosophical Association. It features a variety of topics and is one of the leading philosophy journals in North America.
Additional Information about ACPQ
Editorial Staff
If you have questions, please email acpq@stthomas.edu
Editor
David Clemenson
Managing Editor
Heidi M. Giebel
Associate Editors
W. Matthews Grant (Book Reviews)
Christopher Toner
Assistant Editors
Gloria Frost
Mary Lemmons
Mark Spencer
Joshua Stuchlik
Mailing Address
American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly
University of St. Thomas – Philosophy Department
2115 Summit Avenue, Mail JRC 241
St. Paul, MN 55105
Publisher and Copyright Information
Publisher
Philosophy Documentation Center
Copyright and Permissions
All copyright and permissions matters are handled by the Philosophy Documentation Center. General rights and permissions information is available on the Philosophy Documentation Center website. Please direct all inquiries regarding rights and permissions to permissions@pdcnet.org.
Subscription Information
Subscriptions information is available on the Philosophy Documentation Center website. Direct all subscription inquiries to order@pdcnet.org or (800) 444-2419.
Editorial Staff
If you have questions, please email acpq@stthomas.edu
Editor
David Clemenson
Managing Editor
Heidi M. Giebel
Associate Editors
W. Matthews Grant (Book Reviews)
Christopher Toner
Assistant Editors
Gloria Frost
Mary Lemmons
Mark Spencer
Joshua Stuchlik
Mailing Address
American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly
University of St. Thomas – Philosophy Department
2115 Summit Avenue, Mail JRC 241
St. Paul, MN 55105
Publisher and Copyright Information
Publisher
Philosophy Documentation Center
Copyright and Permissions
All copyright and permissions matters are handled by the Philosophy Documentation Center. General rights and permissions information is available on the Philosophy Documentation Center website. Please direct all inquiries regarding rights and permissions to permissions@pdcnet.org.
Subscription Information
Subscriptions information is available on the Philosophy Documentation Center website. Direct all subscription inquiries to order@pdcnet.org or (800) 444-2419.
Contact Information
Questions? Please feel free to reach out!
Tel: 651-962-5350
Email: philosophy@stthomas.edu
Fax number: 651-962-5340
Mailing Address
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Avenue, Mail JRC 241
St. Paul, MN 55105
Campus Location
We are located on the second floor of the John Roach Center for the Liberal Arts
(Building #2 on the campus map).